U.S. patent number 3,905,474 [Application Number 05/392,425] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-16 for packing device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Kenichiro Haibara.
United States Patent |
3,905,474 |
Haibara |
September 16, 1975 |
Packing device
Abstract
A packing device of the invention comprises a base sheet of
material having at least one fold line and a plastic film disposed
in overlying relation with respect to the base sheet and having
opposite ends which are fixed to the base sheet. The sheet, when
bent at the fold line, forms a space between the film and the sheet
into which an article is inserted. After the article is inserted
into the space between the film and the sheet, the sheet is bent at
the fold line in an opposite direction to draw the plastic film
taut over the bent sheet and article whereby the article is held
between the plastic film and the carton sheet.
Inventors: |
Haibara; Kenichiro (Tokyo,
JA) |
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation (Tokyo,
JA)
|
Family
ID: |
14374186 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/392,425 |
Filed: |
August 29, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 6, 1972 [JA] |
|
|
47-104195[U] |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/45.24;
206/461; 206/770 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
75/30 (20130101); B65D 75/42 (20130101); B65D
75/52 (20130101); B65D 2585/6842 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
75/28 (20060101); B65D 75/52 (20060101); B65D
75/30 (20060101); B65D 75/00 (20060101); B65D
75/42 (20060101); B65D 85/68 (20060101); B65D
065/16 (); B65D 075/42 (); B65D 085/62 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/45.33,45.34,45.14,45.31,461,526 ;229/40,39 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dixson, Jr.; William T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Eslinger; Lewis H. Sinderbrand;
Alvin
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A packing device comprising a base sheet having top and bottom
surfaces, a plastic film disposed in overlying relation with
respect to said top surface of the base sheet and fixed to the
latter at least at opposite end portions thereof, at least one fold
line formed on said base sheet to divide said base sheet into at
least two portions in such manner that one of said portions of the
base sheet can be folded both upward toward said top surface and
downward toward said bottom surface, whereby an article can be
inserted into a space formed between said base sheet and said film
when said one portion is folded upward and said article can be held
between said base sheet and said film by the tension of said film
when said one portion is folded downward, and at least two slits
formed in said base sheet and intersecting with said fold line
substantially at right angles to define at least two upstanding
portions of said base sheet contacting side portions of said
article when said one portion of said base sheet is folded
downward.
2. A packing device comprising a base sheet having top and bottom
surfaces, a plastic film disposed in overlying relation with
respect to said top surface of the base sheet and fixed to the
latter at least at opposite end portions thereof, at least one fold
line formed on said base sheet to divide said base sheet into at
least two portions in such manner that one of said portions of the
base sheet can be folded both upward toward said top and downward
toward said bottom surface, whereby an article can be inserted into
a space formed between said base sheet and said film when said one
portion is folded upward and said article can be held between said
base sheet and said film by the tension of said film when said one
portion is folded downward, and a plurality of further fold lines
formed on said base sheet parallel with said one fold line to
divide said base sheet into corresponding further portions, whereby
an additional article can be held between said film and a portion
of said base sheet defined by a pair of said fold lines.
3. A packing device comprising a base sheet formed of a plurality
of serially connected blocks each of which blocks is provided with
at least three parallel fold lines formed on said base sheet; and a
plastic film overlying said base sheet and fixed to opposite ends
of each of said blocks, whereby an article can be held with each
block between said film and a portion of said base sheet defined by
at least one of said three fold lines.
4. A packing device according to claim 3, wherein a perforated line
is formed on an interconnecting portion linking adjacent blocks of
said base sheet, whereby said blocks can be individually
separated.
5. A packing device according to claim 4 wherein each block is
provided with four parallel fold lines to define five portions
wherein a first of said portions comprises said interconnecting
portion, adjacent second and third portions cooperate with said
film to receive and hold a first article, a fourth portion
cooperates with said film to receive and hold a second article and
a fifth portion comprises a foldable portion for tensioning the
film over said block when folded downward.
6. A packing device according to claim 4 wherein each block
includes first and second adjacent portions defined by one of said
fold lines, one of said adjacent portions being foldable upward to
enable an article to be placed on the other of said adjacent
portions and foldable downward in approximately V-shaped
configuration to tension said film over said article.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a packing device and more particularly to
a novel packing device comprising a base sheet having at least one
fold line and a plastic film thereover.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is generally known, a cushioning or damping effect is generally
considered preferable in the packing of electrical apparatuses for
storage or trans-shipment. In the conventional packing of
electrical apparatuses, a block-like or sheet-like damping element
made of damping material such as foamed plastic material formed
according to the shape of the particular electrical apparatus, is
employed and the damping element is fitted or attached to suitable
portions of the electrical apparatus to be packed in a container
such as a carton box. However, in this conventional technique, the
damping element cannot be used for different kinds of electrical
apparatuses, because the shape and the size of the damping element
are restricted to the unique dimensions of the particular apparatus
for which it was formed. Moreover, the conventional packing device
has the disadvantages that larger storage spaces are required for
the packed apparatus and for the storage of the damping elements
because the damping element itself has a relatively large
volume.
In an alternative packing technique a small article such as a knife
or a spoon is packed by disposing a plastic sheet over the article
on a carton sheet. In this technique, the plastic sheet is often
thick and is fixed on the carbon sheet by heating a film of
adhesive of synthetic resin.
However, in carrying out this technique, a significant quantity of
adhesive is required and the heating process requires more labor
for packing the article. When a user removes the article from the
packing, he must break the carton sheet or the plastic sheet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other disadvantages are overcome by the present
invention of a foldable packing device comprising a base sheet
having at least one fold line and a plastic film disposed in
overlying relation with respect to the sheet and having opposite
ends which are fixed to the base sheet.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
novel packing device.
Another object is to provide a packing device in which an article
can easily be inserted into or withdrawn from the device.
A further object is to provide a packing device in which an
overlying plastic film has opposite ends which are fixed to a base
sheet, the latter having at least one fold line, and moreover
wherein an article packed in the device can be displayed
therein.
A further object is to provide a packing device which can be used
to pack interchangeable articles having different sizes and shapes
and which can repeatedly be used.
A further object is to provide a packing device comprising a base
sheet having a plurality of fold lines and an overlying plastic
film fixed at the respective ends of a plurality of portions of the
base sheet, in which a number of articles can be inserted into or
removed from the packing device and wherein packed articles can be
contained in a carton box and consume minimal space therein.
The foregoing and other objectives, features and advantages of the
invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the
following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments of
the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a packing device ready for use
according to first embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the packing device of FIG. 1
in use to receive an article;
FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an article that is packed
within the packing device;
FIG. 3B is a sectional view of a portion of the packing device
shown in FIG. 3A;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the use of the packing device
of FIG. 3A to display the packed article;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a packing device according to
another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the use of the packing device
of FIG. 5 to pack at least one article therein;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a packing device according to
a still further embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the use of the packing device
of FIG. 7 to display a packed article;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a packing device according to
yet another embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a packing device according to
a further embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are
used throughout,
FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are perspective views showing a packing device
according to first embodiment of the invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a fold line 2 is formed on a rectangular base
sheet 1 made of sheet material such as heavy duty paper, cardboard
or other material conventionally used in a packing carton. The fold
line 2 is formed on one side of the base sheet 1, for example, the
bottom surface and the base sheet 1 is comprised of two portions 1a
and 1b having different areas which share a common boundary formed
by the fold line 2, respectively. As described below, one portion
1a is adapted to receive an article to be packed, and the other
portion 1b is adapted to be folded or bent. A film 3 made of
transparent sheet of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene is
disposed in overlying relation with the base sheet 1. Opposite end
portions of the film 3 are fixed at respective portions 1c of the
base sheet 1; the affixed portions being nearly parallel with the
fold line 2. In this embodiment, the film 3 adheres to the base
sheet 1 by an adhesive, or alternatively it is welded to the base
sheet 1 which is coated with vinyl-chloride by a heating and
pressing operation.
To pack an article A, for example, a portable radioset, as shown in
FIG. 2, the portion 1b of the base sheet 1 is bent or folded
upward, toward the side of the film 3, at the fold line 2.
Consequently, a relatively large space is formed between the upper
surface of the base sheet 1 and the film 3, into which the article
A may be inserted. Next, as shown in FIG. 3A, the portion 1b of the
base sheet 1 is bent or folded in the opposite direction toward the
lower surface of the base sheet 1. The bending of the base sheet 1,
as shown in FIG. 3B, draws the film taut over the upper surface
thereof, and strongly tensions the film 3 by the thickness of the
base sheet 1, whereby the article A is firmly held between the base
sheet 1 and the film 3.
The article A may be withdrawn from the packing device by following
the above-described steps in the reverse order, and various
articles can be repeatedly inserted into and withdrawn from the
same packing device. Many of the articles A packed as shown in FIG.
3A can be stacked, or placed side by side in a container such as a
carton box. The tendency of the folded portion 1b of each packing
device to unfold so as to return to the condition depicted in FIG.
1 produces repelling forces between the packing devices to thereby
impart a suitable cushion effect to the packed articles in the
container.
Moreover, as the film 3 is transparent, the article A can be
displayed as packed in FIG. 3A. In the display, the base sheet 1
having the article A thereon is placed on a rack B so that the
portions 1a and 1b of the base sheet 1 are approximately V-shaped,
as shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the weight of the article A
maintains the approximate V-shape of the portions 1a and 1b of the
base sheet 1. Thus, as the article A is visible through the film 3,
the article A packed as above-mentioned can be readily
displayed.
In order to maintain more securely the packing condition as shown
in FIG. 3A, as occasion demands, the folded portion 1b may be
attached to the lower surface of the portion 1a of the base sheet 1
by using double sided adhesive tape or any other conventional
means.
Referring now to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, another embodiment of the
invention is illustrated.
In this embodiment, three folded lines 12a, 12b and 12c parallel
with one another are formed on a base sheet 11. The base sheet 11
is thus comprised of four portions 11a, 11b, 11d and 11e that are
bordered by the fold lines 12a, 12b and 12c as shown. At least two
slits 14 are formed substantially perpendicular to the fold line
12a, and near the longitudinal edge of the base sheet 11. These
slits serve to define a pair of nearly stepped standing portions
between the portions 11a and 11b when these portions are folded as
described below. A film 13, similar to the film 3, overlies the
base sheet and is fixed to both end portions 11c, 11c of the base
sheet 11, as in the first embodiment.
In the use of the packing device to pack an article, as shown in
FIG. 6, the portion 11b is folded upwardly at the fold line 12a
relative to the portion 11a such that these adjacent portions are
substantially L-shaped. Next, the portions 11d and 11e are folded
downward at fold lines 12b and 12c so as to be in contact with at
least part of the lower surfaces of at least one of the portions
11b and 11a, respectively, whereby the film 13 is tensioned over
the article. In the folding operation, the pair of stepped standing
portions 15, defined by the pair of slits 14 and the longitudinal
edges of the base sheet, are formed. The article A can be inserted
and securely held between the pair of stepped standing portions 15.
Moreover, in this embodiment and additional article A' such as a
dry cell or an earphone cord or other device that may be used with
the article A, can be held between the portion 11d and the film 13.
In such manner, a plurality of articles can be packed in one
packing device by utilizing a plurality of portions of the base
sheet.
Turning now to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, a further embodiment of the
invention is shown.
In this embodiment, four fold lines 22a, 22b, and 22c, and 22d
nearly parallel with one another are formed on a base sheet 21. The
base sheet 21 is thus comprised of five portions 21a, 21b, 21d, 21e
and 21f that are bordered by the fold lines 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d.
A flap 25 is formed on the edge of the portion 21f, and a slit 26
for receiving the flap 25 is formed on the portion 21a. A film 23
similar to the film 3 overlies the base sheet and is fixed to both
end portions 21c of the base sheet 21 as in the aforedescribed
embodiments.
In the use of the packing device to pack the article A, the various
portions of the base sheet 21 are folded in a manner similar to
that described in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6. The film 23 is
thus tensioned over the article A. An additional article A' can be
retained between the portion 21d and the film. Furthermore the
article A can be displayed, as shown in FIG. 8, flap by inserting
the 25 into the slit 26, whereby the portions 21a, 21b, 21d, 21e
and 21f of the base sheet 21 are firmly held relatively to one
another and the article A can thus be securely displayed. The
portion 21e now serves as a stable support base for the packing
device that is used to display the packed article.
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 9.
In this embodiment, a base sheet 31 can be considered to be divided
into plural segments or blocks, each of which consists of four
portions 31a, 31b, 31d and 31e formed by respective fold lines, as
in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A plurality of blocks c
are connected in series with one another through respective
connecting portions 31g. A film 33 similar to the film 3 overlies
the base sheet and is fixed to each of the connecting portions 31g
corresponding to each of block c.
In the use of the packing device to pack an article, the article A
and the additional article A' are inserted between the portion 31a
and the film 33, and between the portion 31d and the film 33,
respectively, in a block c. A relatively long section of the base
sheet 31 is folded in serpentine fashion along the fold lines, as
shown in FIG. 9, whereby the article A and the additional article
A' are firmly held between the portion 31a and the film 33, and
between the portion 31d and the film 33. Thus, the plural blocks c
of the packing devices permit a number of articles to be packed in
one packing device. In this embodiment, the articles packed in the
series of connected blocks are readily contained in a carton
box.
Moreover in the FIG. 9 embodiment, a perforated or partially
punched line may be formed on or proximate to each fold line on
portions 31g of the blocks c so that a block can be separated
individually to facilitate individual uses, such as sales of the
packed articles. It may be appreciated that, as described above
with respect to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the portions 31a and 31e of each
block c, may be attached to each other by using a double-sided
adhesive tape, if desired.
Referring to FIG. 10, yet another embodiment of the invention is
shown.
In this embodiment, a relatively long base sheet 41 is formed of a
plurality of blocks c', each of which consists of two portions and
a connecting portion, formed by respective fold lines. Two portions
41a and 41b, as shown, are folded in approximately V-shaped,
similar to FIG. 4, to form one block c'. A plurality of the blocks
c' are connected in series with one another through respective
connecting portions 41g. A film 43 overlies the base sheet and is
fixed to the respective blocks c' thereof. As in the FIG. 9
embodiment, the plural blocks c' permit a number of articls A to be
packed in one packing device. Also in this embodiment, perforated
or partially punched lines 47 may be formed, such as on portions
41g in such a manner that each block c' can be separated from the
series connection.
In the present invention, as described above, the film is tensioned
by folding back at least one portion of the base sheet so that the
bottom surfaces of the folded portions face each other, whereby the
article to be packed can be firmly held between the base sheet and
the film.
Therefore, since the article is inserted between the base sheet and
the film when the film is slackened, the article can be easily
inserted into and withdrawn from the packing device and therefore
work efficiency in the packing operation is promoted.
Since the article is held between the base sheet and the film,
utilizing the tension of the film, various articles with different
shapes and sizes can be packed in the same packing device and
moreover the same packing device can be repeatedly used.
A suitable cushion effect can be obtained by the repelling force
derived from the tendency of the folded portion of the base sheet
to unfold and so a higher damping effect is possible.
Since the materials used for the base sheet and the film are
relatively thin, the volume consumed by the packed articles is
minimized. Moreover, since the unused packing devices can be piled
up in flattened or plate-like configuration in storage, they are
not bulky.
Conveniently if the film is transparent, an article packed in the
packing device, can be readily displayed, as is.
Since the packing device is comprised merely of a base sheet and a
film, it is simple in construction and to manufacture, and it is
low-priced.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood
by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and
details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *